DGP vs DGPS: HC division bench recuses from hearing

CASE IS RELATED TO PROBE THAT DGP CHATTOPADHYAYA LED SIT HAS DONE TO ASCERTAIN ALLEGED COMPLICITY OF EXMOGA SSP RAJ JIT SINGH WITH DRUG TRAFFICKERS

CHANDIGARH : The Punjab and Haryana high court division bench presided over by chief justice Krishna Murari and justice Arun Palli recused from hearing the case related to investigation that DGP (PSPCL) S Chattopadhyaya-led Special Investigation Team (SIT) has carried out to ascertain the alleged complicity of former Moga SSP Raj Jit Singh with drug traffickers.

Justice Palli, the junior judge on the bench, sought the recusal due to personal reasons, following which the chief justice said he would decide as to which bench is to be assigned the case. The Raj Jit case is being heard as part of a 2013 Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that the HC had initiated into the Jagdish Bhola drug racket case.

Justice Murari, who joined on June 2, had effected a roster change ordering that all PILS be listed before his bench, following which the matter was transferred here. A division bench, presided over by justice Surya Kant, had been hearing the case since July 2015.

On May 23, Chattopadhyaya had submitted two reports on the issue, one signed by all three members of the SIT, including ADGP Parbodh Kumar and IG Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, and the other just signed by him. Chattopadhyaya had also levelled allegations against his senior colleagues.

Also, the court is to take up the opinion submitted by Punjab government’s two-member panel constituted to examine and suggest action on the special task force (STF) report on the alleged links between former revenue minister and Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia and some drug traffickers. The report, prepared by the STF headed by IPS officer HS Sidhu, was submitted in a sealed cover to the HC on February 1.

The chief justice also allowed Punjab advocate general, Atul Nanda, to submit a note on facts regarding this case upon a request from him. The chief justice said that after his note he would decide whether Jagdish Bhola drug racket case and appeals filed seeking bails and petitions on money laundering investigations are to be taken up by the one bench or to be assigned to two different benches.